Tag: Reading is Fundamental

The books in this post have been provided to me from the publisher for the purpose of giving an honest review. While the books were provided to me free of charge, the thoughts and opinions on these books are my own.

The Bible is a really big, God sized, story of redemption from creation to revelation. Among the pages are books, chapters, and verses that reveal this big story through small stories made up of Biblical heroes and tales of miracles. We see free will, judgement, grace, and forgiveness unfold throughout the pages. Our eyes are opened to The Gospel and hearts are pressed forward into The Great Commission. As many times as we can slide our hand across the pages, and our eyes soak in every Word, there is a beautiful opportunity to learn from others who are in this same faith journey. We go to services on the weekend, participate in small group Bible studies, attend conferences, and even watch sermons and speakers online.

We do this because we desire to understand more, learn more. I was thrilled by The Good Book by Deron Spoo because it is a resource that I can put into my personal study library and revisit often. Between the covers, Deron Spoo has explored forty major themes found in the Bible. Spoo doesn’t just set us down to tell us what he thinks, but begins each theme on the foundations of the Scriptures in full content, not just a random verse or two. Then he expounds upon the theme from the scripture and encourages personal reflection at the end of the chapter. This isn’t just a book for reading, but a book for study, sharing, and for future reference.

I’d recommend this book for new believers who are trying to grapple with the entirety of the Bible; as well as seasoned believers who may enjoy a fresh perspective.

I have had my hands on this book for a little bit, I wanted to do this book justice and held onto it until after the kids were out of school. Rest is incredibly important, for our body and for our mind. Also, for our soul.

As I have mentioned in the past on the blog, I have an autoimmune disease. It can leave me feeling beat down and fatigued… even after a full night of sleep. Part of getting a hold on my health was making decisions about what I would eat, how I would spend my energy, and the products I use on my body. I needed to detox my body of all the bad things that could be getting in the way of my health. This was an important step in healing my body so that I could do all that I wanted to with my life, my time, my energy.

Just like our bodies can be burdened by what we eat and drink, our heart and soul can be burdened by the sin of the world. There are our own personal sins of days past that may haunt us, the sins of others which create anger and resentment; even the daily news can break our hearts for what is happening all around us. If I want to improve my physical health, I must be mindful of what I eat and drink, put onto my body, and what I do with my body. So much I take tender care with my heart and soul. We can’t take care of the outside of the temple, and let the inside rot away or cave in under the burdens of the world.

Whispers of Rest by Bonnie Gray walk us through 40 days of detoxing our soul through devotions that remind us of how God sees us (as beloved) and what that means in our choices, our daily lives, our future dreams, and healing from the inside out. Each day explores the theme for that day, The Word, coupled with prayers and reflections, and calls to action to reclaim our mental, spiritual, and physical selves.

Remarkable Faith by Shauna Letellier is a fantastic book, truly. Letellier explores those incidences in Biblical history where the faith of others caused Jesus to take pause. These were people that remained unnamed and yet we talk about them to day. We call her the “woman with the blood disorder”, and we call him the Roman Centurion. There are others too, whom we know just by their affliction, pain, tragedy… and their display of remarkable faith.

I can’t recall reading a book from this perspective, where the focus was on the nameless people who had a faith that was stronger than their affliction; and that is so relevant today. These are the true stories of people whom we could (and probably do) encounter in our churches every day, on the streets as we pass by, and even in the dynamics of our own families. I think this would be a fantastic book for a small group, or even potentially a starting point for a sermon series.

I think of so many women, in particular, who feel unseen. These nine people remind us that even those who names may be lost to history were far from unseen. They were known by God who created them, known by the Savior who marveled at their faith

I received a copy of Alive in Him from the Publisher for the purpose of reviewing. The thoughts and opinions in this piece are my own.

On my flight out to Indiana, for The Gospel Coalition Conference, I brought my copy of Alive in Him by Gloria Furman. Coincidentally, the theme of the conference plenary sessions was unpacking the book of Galatians. And, here I find myself reading about it’s neighboring book Ephesians.

Alive in Him is an exploration of the book of Ephesians, and was designed to be read along side an open Bible. I’ve been a fan of Gloria Furman for quite some time, and I love her intelligent writing style. She tackles the Scriptures beautifully without underestimating the readers ability to comprehend. Yet her written word flows with grace, beauty, and femininity.

You can tell that Gloria Furman loves the Word, and desires her readers to understand the depths of God’s promises to His children of redemption. Then she takes this information and packages it in a way that makes it relatable to our every day life… what does this mean to me today? How do Paul’s letters to the Ephesians matter in the world, city, and church that I live in today? What do these letters mean to my personal life and circumstances?

So why read Alive in Him? If there is anything that I can say comes through Gloria Furman’s writings and interviews is that she has a deep love of God. It’s not lip service, but genuine and infectious… you want the world to see that same level of love for God in your own life. However, we must each come to that place on our own … where we truly “get it”. That is why you should read this book, because Furman desires for you to see God’s tremendous love for you in the same way she does.

This walk through Ephesians presses you not just into how Furman perceives the text, but sends you directly to the Word for your own participation in the conversation. She shares her wisdom and what she has learned, but challenges her readers to view the text and experience it for themselves. This isn’t a one way teaching, with a professor standing at a lectern. Instead you are almost transported to her living room, as if you have been invited to Small Group at the Furman house.

Her approach is kind, loving, and graceful as she unfolds the Scriptures before you.

One of my favorite quotes from the book is:

“The Holy Spirit will not allow you to live satisfied on the rubbish heap; he will nurture a longing for the City of God to beat in your heart.”

~ Gloria Furman, Alive in Him

And I think that quote really does justice to the theme of the book, to help you fulfill that desire to have the “City of God” beating in your heart. If that is your longing, this book is a great start to put you on the path.

Welcome to my 10 Day Book Tour. I love to read, and I am often given books to read for review. Over the last year, I determined that I didn’t want to turn my blog into a book review site. However, I can’t help that I LOVE books. I truly do. They add so much value to my life, because I learn from them and glean new perspectives from the authors who put their hearts to the page. So, I’ve decided that each quarter, I’m going to do a 10 Day Book Tour. What have I been reading, what do I honestly think about the book, and to whom I would recommend it. Each day, for ten days, you will get a peak into my bookshelf.

DAY TEN: DIVINE DIRECTION by Craig Groeschel

I am really excited to be apart of the Launch Team for Divine Direction. When you are on a launch team, you get an advanced copy of the book for the purpose of reading it and helping promote it leading up to the sales date.

I love a good sneak peek!

So expect to hear a bit more about this book in the coming days.

One of the things that drew me to the book was that the 7 decisions are really small choices that will yield big impact. Groeschel walks us through making these small choices from a Biblical standpoint. Connection our decisions to the desires of God’s heart.

Stop what is hindering you. Start a new habit. Determine when to stay or when to go. Serve where God wants you serve. Connect genuinely. Trust in God who has known you since you were knit in your mother’s womb and the hairs on your head; God who has a plan for your life.

Welcome to my 10 Day Book Tour. I love to read, and I am often given books to read for review. Over the last year, I determined that I didn’t want to turn my blog into a book review site. However, I can’t help that I LOVE books. I truly do. They add so much value to my life, because I learn from them and glean new perspectives from the authors who put their hearts to the page. So, I’ve decided that each quarter, I’m going to do a 10 Day Book Tour. What have I been reading, what do I honestly think about the book, and to whom I would recommend it. Each day, for ten days, you will get a peak into my bookshelf.

DAY NINE: 100 MOST ENCOURAGING VERSES OF THE BIBLE by Troy Schmidt

100 Most Encouraging Verses of the Bible was given to me by Bethany House Publishers for the purpose of reviewing. The thoughts and opinions in this piece are my own and not influenced by the publisher or author.

Sometimes, it is nice to have a little book of verses edited around a theme. One I have used for years is God’s Promises to Women. When I saw this book on the list for potential reviews, I really thought it was going to be the same thing. A compilation of Bible verses, categorized under headings, with the potential of being another “go-to” book for when a need a quick verse for a card or friend.

It was much more than that.

Not only does the book have a great list of 100 encouraging verses, but each verse is also accompanied by a passage that puts the verse into context or application for our life. This book could serve as a great daily devotional, added to your study routine. It’s a slim line book, which means it will fit in your tote or even the pocket of your bible cover. It’s a great gift item, but also a good resource for your personal library.

Welcome to my 10 Day Book Tour. I love to read, and I am often given books to read for review. Over the last year, I determined that I didn’t want to turn my blog into a book review site. However, I can’t help that I LOVE books. I truly do. They add so much value to my life, because I learn from them and glean new perspectives from the authors who put their hearts to the page. So, I’ve decided that each quarter, I’m going to do a 10 Day Book Tour. What have I been reading, what do I honestly think about the book, and to whom I would recommend it. Each day, for ten days, you will get a peak into my bookshelf.

I received a copy of Leadership Promises for Every Day, Daily Devotional by John C. Maxwell for the purpose of reviewing. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

DAY EIGHT: LEADERSHIP PROMISES FOR EVERY DAY by John C. Maxwell

Leaders really do need to be encouraged. Leaders, good ones, are constantly pouring out into others. We can’t pour out of an empty vessel, so leaders need to have someone who is pouring into their lives. This isn’t always easy though, especially if you happen to the be at the top of the ministry ladder. I love this devotional, where John C. Maxwell pours a daily dose of scripture and leadership wisdom into my life.

I’ve enjoyed the book so much, I have in turn found myself giving it as a gift to other leaders. I would have preferred a “Day 1”, “Day 2″… format over a calendar dated format. But, that may be my OCD talking… because despite flipping through it… I literally waiting until January 1st to official start using it.

Additionally, I get a lot of great feedback from those who received it as a gift. Which really spurs me on to continue gifting it, knowing that it’s not just me… but various leaders who are benefiting from these devotions.

Welcome to my 10 Day Book Tour. I love to read, and I am often given books to read for review. Over the last year, I determined that I didn’t want to turn my blog into a book review site. However, I can’t help that I LOVE books. I truly do. They add so much value to my life, because I learn from them and glean new perspectives from the authors who put their hearts to the page. So, I’ve decided that each quarter, I’m going to do a 10 Day Book Tour. What have I been reading, what do I honestly think about the book, and to whom I would recommend it. Each day, for ten days, you will get a peak into my bookshelf.

I received a copy of The Gospel Life Series- Racial Reconciliation from B&H Publishers for the purpose of reviewing. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is a big topic right now. Some topics are really hard, complex, uncomfortable, and we may even try to avoid them.

If you want to have a voice in the conversation, you have to be willing to hear some hard truths. Your eyes have to be open to see what may have been hidden from your life. Your ears need to be open to hear the experiences of others, that differ from your own. You also need to be prepared for what is going to come your way.

When you pray for the Lord to break your heart for what breaks His, expect to be deeply broken. Invest in tissues, because you won’t be able to unsee or unhear.

It was in a recently interview, I heard a Pastor state that he believed that the Lord is bringing this issue forward, that we can no longer ignore it. Another Pastor said the church needs to be on the front line on this issue, not hiding behind the pews.

The Gospel for Life Series – The Gospel and Racial Reconciliation is a great book to start your journey on this complex topic. It’s a small book, which means it gets right to the point. It’s also a collection of voices, with chapters contributed by J. Daniel Hays, Thabiti Anyabwile, Trillia Newbell, Eric Mason, Matthew J. Hall, and D.A. Horton. There is also a list at the end of the book for additional reading to continue learning.

What I have learned in regard to this discussion, is that first I need to listen. I need to read. I need to watch. I need to lean into those who have experience, not opinions. I need to feel for those who hurt, not try to justify the how or why things happened. I need to open my eyes, ears, and heart to what the Lord would say. This book is certainly a great tool in that process.

We explore what the Bible says from our creation in His image (all of us), what the Lord purposed us for, how the Bible would have us interact with one another, how things went wrong, inter-ethnic marriage, how to get to know those who don’t look like us or come from a different background, how the church should engage, and what does the culture around us say (and how do we respond to that).

In Chapter 4, Pastor Eric Mason states:

“Churches need to recognize that one of the Enemy’s devices is to fight against reconciliation between God’s people (2 Cor. 2:11).”

When we recognize this, we know that we can’t stay silent. It’s US versus the Enemy.